Couples counselling in Cottesloe
Relationships represent one of life's most rewarding yet demanding adventures, offering profound insights into who we truly are. Through partnerships, we discover important truths: that joy and difficulty often intertwine, that compatibility requires ongoing effort, and that the couple you become will evolve from who you started as. Every meaningful relationship requires continuous growth and fresh beginnings.
When you invest in your partnership with intention, openness and genuine care, you can emerge more resilient and connected than before. We're here to support you through this process with a compassionate, understanding and heartfelt approach.
As seasoned and trusted relationship counsellors serving the Cottesloe area, we offer flexible scheduling Monday through Saturday, including evening appointments to accommodate your needs.
Navigating relationships represents perhaps our most intricate human challenge, and we're here to provide guidance and support along the way.
Couples, Marriage, and Relationship Counselling
Better Relationships Start Here
I know relationship issues are incredibly scary to feel, and even harder to acknowledge to yourself.
Yet you are not alone. These are all common experiences in couples that we can help you work through.
Here are some of the issues that may arise in your relationship where we can help through relationship counselling:
Questioning if this is the right partner for you or if your relationship is ending or not worth it anymore.
Have different love languages and don’t want to compromise on how each other wants to be loved.
Have trouble communicating calmly.
Recurring fights that erupt over the same issues.
Not able to resolve issues, resulting in them becoming ongoing fights, silent retreats or just swept under the rug.
You don’t feel seen, valued or understood by your partner, and they don’t seem to care about your feelings.
Your arguments are triggering and bring out the worst in you, either by having intense reactions, or shutting down and withdrawing.
You feel like you’ve lost the spark and you’re confused about how to get it back.
You don’t want to repeat the patterns of your parents or head towards divorce or separation.
You feel lonely in your relationship and like you’re the only one who cares or is fighting for the relationship;
You’re stuck in the ‘distancer’ and ‘pursuer’ dynamic where one partner wants more intimacy and one partner needs more space;
You can’t seem to express yourself sexually or find satisfaction in the bedroom.
You’re entering a new family dynamic, of separation, co-parenting, blended families or single parenthood.
Go beneath the tip of the iceberg to
talk about what really matters.
How Our Cottesloe Counsellors Can Help Your Relationship
I'll guide you to approach your challenges and life changes with openness, empathy and honest dialogue; helping you both move forward in your partnership with care, understanding and thoughtful pacing.
Frequently, reworking your relationship means collaboratively identifying what's serving you well, what isn't, and what requires adjustment. Taking dedicated time to examine your partnership will bring valuable insights and direction.
Rather than discarding your entire connection, the focus is on thoughtful evaluation, addressing difficult conversations, understanding your individual and shared needs, and having the strength to shape and reshape your bond in ways that truly serve your partnership.
The counselling process centers on uncovering core issues, helping you recognize your emotions and express them clearly, while learning to request what you genuinely need to feel secure, valued and vibrant within your relationship.
There's no need to follow someone else's formula – instead, we'll help you discover your authentic voice and approach that fits your specific situation. Together, we'll develop your personal relationship roadmap while filtering out external expectations, allowing you to uncover what truly works for your partnership.
You'll develop greater confidence and gain deeper insight into how both you and your partner function and connect.
You'll learn practical communication tools that enable you to address conflicts more efficiently and effectively.
You'll be encouraged to embrace personal accountability while discovering new ways to better support your partner and rebuild intimacy and companionship.
These essential relationship navigation skills will help you rediscover your path forward together.
We're all learning to manage intricate relationships, so our approach focuses on creating personalized strategies that fit your specific partnership in meaningful, practical and accessible ways.
Firstly, thank you for holding such a safe and warm space for myself and my partner during our sessions. We've been having in-depth conversations after our sessions with you and facing things we've been avoiding for a long time and we feel so much closer. I also truly appreciate you sending all of the resources that you do too. Thanks again for all that you do.” Kirsty
Improve Your Relationship Skills
You’ve done the hard part by finding the one you want to be with.
Now you can learn all of the teachable skills you can use to maintain your relationship:
We’d love to teach you how to:
Discuss issues in a healthy way that doesn’t provoke aggression.
Truly hear each other and slow down your conversations.
See each other’s experience and how they view your interactions.
Resolve issues, not ignoring them or leaving them unresolved.
Understand your partner’s love language.
Fight about what really matters, not superficial tiffs.
Stay away from criticism, stonewalling and withdrawal.
Recover and heal after a fight.
Find your emotional and sexual connection again.
Learn each other’s vision and hopes for the future.
Know if together or apart is the best option for you.
We’re respected couples therapists who’ve helped many couples not only stay together, but start a new chapter in their relationship that feels lighter, more connected, intimate and hopeful again.
Experienced and respected Cottesloe therapists to choose from
You have options! Fabian Parker and Jo Bealey are both experienced and respected couples therapists who will hold your relationship with reverence while working to resolve your tension and communication challenges.
Fabian Parker
Qualifications
Registered Counsellor with ACA
Master’s of Counselling (University of Notre Dame), 2020
Bachelor of Psychology (Curtin University), 2014
Narrative Therapy, 2019
Justyna Ptak-Broers
Qualifications
Master of Counselling, Murdoch University, 2023
Masters in Psychology Health & Social Psychology, Maastricht University, 2016
Master in Psychology, University of Wroclaw, 2015
Britt Tyrrell
Qualifications
Bachelor of Counselling, Notre Dame University, 2024
Professional development in Emotion-Focused Couples Counselling, Internal Family Systems, Autism and Neurodiversity Awareness, relationship counselling, sex and intimacy.
“With the outmost confidence I have referred many of my clients to Fabian for couples therapy. They have come back with a thousand thank you’s and further insight into how to improve themselves as individuals and as couples. Fabian is confident, direct and has the ability to hold the space for some difficult conversations. If you want some help in your relationship, Fabian is highly recommended.”
Martina Sackmann, Clinical Counsellor
Not sure who is the best fit for you?
Don’t worry; it’s our job to guide you.
When you enquire, Gabriella will review your
inquiry and make a recommendation.
Session Information
Sessions available Monday - Sunday.
Sessions are 60 or 90 minutes.
After-hours and weekend appointments are available.
Session fees will be discussed when you contact.
Choose between weekly/fortnightly/monthly sessions.
Private health rebates may apply.
Medicare rebates are not applicable to relationship counselling.
All our therapists are open for all couple dynamics and those at all stages of relationships, whether you're newly dating or decades into your relationship. This includes separating or separated couples, blended families and co-parents or couples seeking to try their relationship again.
We warm-heartedly welcome LGBTIQA+, open/poly and BIPOC clients to all our service and spaces.
“Gabriella and her team are amazing! I have been referring my clients to her team for the last couple of years and am so grateful for their care that they provide their clients. Can highly recommend them for both individual and couple’s counselling. We need more beautiful, ethical, authentic practices like this one!”
- Darielle Bown, The Wanderlust Age
Get in Touch
Contact Gabriella de Mori & Co. and let us guide you on your therapeutic journey.
Couples & Marriage Therapy Reviews
“At first I didn’t think counselling was for me. My relationship with my wife had been deteriorating for several years and it came to the point where I left the family home. It was a difficult decision to make, but I couldn’t handle to constant arguing, especially in front of our two beautiful children. I hated being away from my wife and kids, but I didn’t know what else to do. It was only then that I realised that I needed help to save my family and marriage of 18 years. My wife suggested counselling, but I wasn’t convinced a complete stranger could help our marriage.
I agreed to go and see Gabriella. Before our first session, I was nervous, anxious and not very optimistic. Gabriella made both my wife and I feel welcome and comfortable. I was able to open up to her and let her know how I was feeling, as did my wife, without being criticised or judged. Gabriella just listened. She then gave us effective strategies to help us communicate better (which was our biggest problem). My wife and I continue to use these strategies and our marriage is back on track. I’m not going to lie, we still have our ups and downs, but by using the strategies Gabriella has given us, I feel we are able to better deal with our issues.
I would strongly recommend counselling with Gabriella if you are serious about saving your marriage. Go to counselling with an open mind, be honest with yourself and be prepared for the difficult questions. Thank you Gabriella for enabling me to reconnect with my beautiful wife and saving my marriage.”- James, Couples Counselling client
“I felt really sad when our sessions with Gabriella came to an end. It was like we were losing a friend. The minute we walked in, she made us feel comfortable and at home. She gave my husband and I some awesome strategies to better communicate with each other, which was what we were struggling with. We lost our way and Gabriella was able to help us to reconnect and remind us of why we fell in love 15 years ago. I can absolutely, highly recommend Gabriella for anyone needing someone beautiful to talk with. Thank you again for being our saviour. - Annie, Couples Counselling Client
“You have been amazing !!! Everyone thinks couples counselling is scary and its actually not! I honestly don’t know why couples leave it to the last straw to save a relationship…it should be part of every couple’s journey I think! We are really enjoying our journey with you; The guidance, awareness and tools you have given so far have been invaluable. We couldn’t have chosen a better counsellor for us; A big thank you to your approach, you have helped us beyond words! We are really excited about our future together, it’s great to be feeling hopeful again. I love Thursdays now!!! “-Tate + Alyssa, couples counselling clients
"I don't think we would have survived this first year of parenting without you. We joke that we want to keep you on a retainer forever! We have such a high after our sessions and our weekly appointments have meant that we can park all our hard conversations for our sessions and have your support to work through them. We feel so much stronger from going through couples counselling with you." - Ben, Couples Counselling Client
"I’ve been really enjoying our sessions, which have been very beneficial for me. I feel like I’m getting a better understanding of my partner, and he also of me. It’s so nice to get asked the right questions by you to question ourselves and we both feel really comfortable in the sessions. I’m looking forward to seeing how we can continue to evolve in our relationship in the future and learn the tools we need to move forward. Thank you” - Therese, Couples Counselling Client
“Firstly, thank you for holding such a safe and warm space for myself and my partner during our sessions. We've been having in-depth conversations after our sessions with you and facing things we've been avoiding for a long time and we feel so much closer. I also truly appreciate you sending all of the resources that you do too. Thanks again for all that you do.” - Kirsty, Couples Counselling Client
“ My partner and I met Gabriella in one of the hardest moments of our life (so far). We both felt stuck, sad, confused. Lots of emotions going on and not sure how to tackle all of them. I’ve always been a big advocate for counseling because you can never know enough about yourself right? But couples counseling was something very new to me. It’s been so refreshing to talk to someone that was able to guide us through the hurdles life brings. Both my partner and I felt heard, not judged and supported. Coming to these sessions were sometimes hard and emotional but I always left feeling like we were doing the right thing. It brought my partner and I closer, it brought us a safe space. I’m sure that counseling will be a very important part in my life from now on. Since I’ve met Gabriella I’ve been recommending her to all of my friends! I just feel so grateful to have met her as a counselor!” - Brent, Couples Counselling Client
Bonus Support for couples
All couples who work with us receive additional couples resources via email that give you concrete, usable and insightful strategies to implement.
These include:
Fighting Fair Rules so you have a clear guideline for how to have difficult conversations that you can both follow clearly.
Reflection questions to understand how your upbringing and background are challenging your current relationship.
Nervous System Model to understand why some partners shut down and withdraw, why some partners get activated, angry or agitated, and how to soothe each other.
Suggested Date Ideas and Exercises to reconnect you emotionally and physically and get out of your usual routine.
Strategies for unwanted thoughts so that you can get out of ruminating loops about the negative aspects of yourself or your partner to have kinder and more compassionate self-talk.
Sex & Intimacy Questions to help you have a dynamic conversation around getting your spark back again.
Relationship Check-Up Guide to explore how a weekly check-in can help your relationship become more streamlined, proactive, connected, and organised. Yes, sometimes scheduling can help!
Gottman Therapy Relationship Sound House Model to show you the 5 key aspects of a happy relationship that 40+ years of relationship research has shown us.
Technology for relationship tips so you can systemise, organise and get clarity on how to run your household as efficiently as possible, with tech!
